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Webflow never ceases to surprise us! May 2023 has been a month full of new features for this web design platform. On the agenda: new functionalities, anticipated updates in the coming months, and an interesting strategic pause.
Discover everything you need to know about the latest Webflow news in this summary blog post from the expert Webflow agency, Digidop.
12 New Features
Webflow has recently introduced 12 new features that enhance the user experience and provide greater flexibility to the tool. Here’s an overview of these features:
1. Remove yourself from a workspace and choose a default workspace: This new feature gives users greater control over their working environment in Webflow, allowing them to leave a workspace and set a default workspace.
2. Search preview color palette: This enhancement allows users to easily preview colors (and their names) before applying them to their website.
3. Text stroke style CSS: This feature enables designers to further customize text by adding a stroke around the characters.
4. CSS dynamic viewport (DVH/SVH): This CSS feature offers designers/developers more flexibility in creating websites for various devices and screen sizes.
5. "Wrap" in a Link or Div Block: This feature allows users to wrap content within a Link or Div Block, providing more design possibilities.
6. Support for a new format: Lottie dot: With this new feature, Webflow now supports the Lottie format, giving designers more options for adding animations to their websites.
7. Ability to customize CMS data in HTML Attributes: This feature allows users to customize CMS data within HTML attributes, offering more flexibility in content management.
8. Nest collection pages in folders: This feature allows users to better organize their collection pages by nesting them in folders.
9. Improved performance of Designer & Editor Mode: Webflow has worked on enhancing the performance of both the Designer and Editor modes, making the design experience smoother and faster.
10. Ability to add components to collection lists (CMS): This new feature allows users to add components to their collection lists, providing more options for content design.
11. Customize your Workspace URL: This feature allows users to customize their workspace URL, enabling better brand recognition.
12. New features on the Figma to Webflow Plugin with Figma to Webflow +: Webflow has added new functionalities to its Figma to Webflow plugin, making the design process even smoother.
2. Upcoming Features Expected on Webflow This Year
Webflow has also announced several new features that will be rolled out later this year. Here’s what we can expect:
2.1 Investment in AI
Webflow has announced that they will invest further in features that combine AI with web development.
For more information on Webflow's investment in AI, you can check out Thibaut’s article on the topic.
2.2 Webflow DevLink
DevLink is an initiative by Webflow aimed at improving collaboration between designers and developers. Currently in Beta, Webflow plans to accelerate the development of this feature in the coming months.
2.3 Enhanced Collaboration
Webflow plans to introduce a feature that will allow users to add comments and tag collaborators directly from the Webflow interface, similar to what can be done on Figma. The goal is to centralize comments directly within the designer to facilitate sharing, leave reviews, and correct feedback more swiftly.
2.4 Native Translation of your Webflow Site (without additional tools)
In the future, Webflow plans to offer the option to translate your site directly from the designer. This will allow tailoring your site according to the regions and languages of users/clients, without the need for additional tools. (Via the Deepl API)
2.5 Integration of 3D on Webflow with Spline
Finally, Webflow has announced that it will introduce 3D into its tool through the integration of Spline. This will provide designers with more options to create interactive and immersive websites.
2. Features on Hold
Webflow is taking a strategic pause: a valuable lesson for us all.
In an ever-evolving web landscape and facing increasingly fierce competition, Webflow has made a bold strategic decision: to pause the development of Logic and Membership features. Although these two features were central to Webflow's communication last year, they will be put on hold for some time. Here’s why this decision is significant:
- Redefining priorities: Webflow has chosen to focus its efforts on what has fueled its success over the years: the Designer, the CMS, and its engaged community. This demonstrates clarity of positioning and a commitment to concentrate on what truly works.
- Capitalizing on the existing ecosystem: The native development of Logic and Membership features is not a priority for Webflow. Why? Because integration with complementary no-code tools like Memberstack or Zapier works perfectly. This demonstrates an intelligent use of the existing ecosystem and a focus on other priorities.
- Prioritizing adaptability (AI): By putting these features on hold, Webflow frees up time and energy for its development teams. These resources can now focus on integrating and developing AI within Webflow. This adaptability is essential to align with new production trends.
What is particularly reassuring is how Webflow communicated this decision. By openly sharing their thought process on platforms like YouTube and Twitter, Webflow showcased transparency and authenticity.
This decision from the no-code website building tool reminds us of vital lessons in strategy:
- It’s impossible to be everywhere at once. It is essential to know how to focus.
- Knowing when to let go of our MVPs and being ready to set them aside is crucial.
- The ability to make quick decisions and adapt to changing markets is vital.
- Openly communicating your strategic decisions to your community facilitates acceptance and reassurance.
In summary, Webflow once again offers us a great lesson in strategy (and marketing).
Conclusion:
May 2023 has been an important month for Webflow. Marked by innovation, adaptability, and strategic decision-making, the introduction of new features, improvements to existing fundamentals, and the bold decision to pause certain functionalities demonstrate Webflow's position as a leader in web design.
Moreover, Webflow provides a valuable lesson in communication strategy and product development, adapting its roadmap along the way to meet new market trends and respond to the growing competition in the website builders industry.
In short, Webflow is more than ever the platform to watch closely in 2023.
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